Earlier this week, it emerged that the much-loved Regency Cafe in Central London had been put up for sale at a price of £170,000, when it was listed on Christie & Co. by owners Antonio Perotti and Gino Schiavetta. This naturally led to questions and concerns about the cafe’s future, but the landlords have insisted that it will not be sold to developers and will remain a cafe.
As reported by the Standard, the sales agents have said that what happens to the cafe and who it is sold to is down to the landlords and Westminster council.
Speaking on the sale of the cafe to the publication, Westminster Councillor David Bothroyd said: “The Regency Café has been a well-loved institution by the local community for over 40 years, and has become an iconic location to visit having been featured in various TV programmes and films such as Layer Cake. To be clear, we won’t allow the site to be developed into something different as we want to preserve the spirit and heritage this iconic café brings, which aligns with the current owners wishes.
“As the freeholder and landlord of the Regency café, we have agreed that whoever takes on this site next needs to carry on the tradition of this being a local restaurant or café as the lease is protected as such. While improvements may need to be made by whoever takes on this site, such as the installation of toilets on the premises, we don’t want to see this café and its history disappear – we want it to continue to be an iconic cornerstone for local residents and visitors to enjoy for years to come.”
Regency Cafe is one of the best-known ‘caffs’ in London alongside the likes of E. Pellici in Bethnal Green, having been around in the centre of London since 1946, serving up fry ups and lunchtime dishes including spag bol, an array of curries, and Friday fish & chips.
The listing for the sale says: “The Regency Cafe has a loyal customer base, including local workers, politicians, and celebrities. Due to a popular social media following, the cafe also attracts tourists looking for a traditional cafe experience.“